TOASTMASTERS District 72 - New Zealand

District Conventions

This page has information and news about District 72 Conventions.

Next Convention

Dunedin, 4-6 May 2012

Download and print Information Brochure (pdf) and Registration Form (1 page Word).

Venue

Completed in July 2011, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin is New Zealand’s only fully covered stadium and the only one in the world with a natural turf pitch. Incorporating a space-age transparent roof and sited on the outskirts of Dunedin’s city centre, the brand new stadium can seat up to 30,000 people. However not only is it New Zealand’s premier sporting, concert and event space, the stadium is also a purpose-built conference venue.

The stadium has multiple flexible conference event spaces, on site catering and the convenience of acres (quite literally!) of carparking. Come and see what Dunedin is so excited about – join us for the May 2012 District Convention at Forsyth Barr Stadium!

Keynote speakers

Brett Rutledge is recognized as one of the most skilled and versatile communicators in the Southern Hemisphere and is heavily in demand as a dynamic business speaker, facilitator and executive communication specialist.

When it comes to communication there is simply no one more qualified. His communication skills and abilities are so honed and nuanced that Brett can change his voice and his approach in over 150 different ways. Accents, age and even personalities can all be mimicked or impersonated with the sort of speed most of us reserve for normal, everyday conversation.

More than that he is one of Toastmasters’ own – the 1998 World Champion of Public Speaking and the foremost communication expert in Australasia!

David Nottage is an Australian born New Zealander, a Kiwi with an attitude - an attitude for success. He has come a long way in the past 18 years, from someone who was too scared to speak in front of a group of four people to being a dynamic presenter who captivated over 2,000 Toastmasters to win the ultimate pinnacle in public speaking, the World Championship for Toastmasters International.

As a keynote speaker David has inspired and motivated thousands of people to fulfill their ambitions. He has spoken internationally at conferences and has motivated people the length and breadth of New Zealand. His message is simple; “Dare to Dream” and he empowers his audiences to cast off their fears and doubts and to take on change with enthusiasm. David always tailors his presentations as a keynote speaker to meet your conference theme and criteria. His style is humorous so that the message sticks, that way it remains effective.

Accommodation

Dunedin has a wide range of accommodation on offer – there’s something to suit everyone. However there is no accommodation within the immediate vicinity of the convention venue, Forsyth Barr Stadium. The closest accommodation is about 1.5km from the venue: about 20 minutes walk.

Here is a small selection of what’s around:

Cargills Quality Hotel, 678 George Street, Dunedin – about 1.5km from Forsyth Barr Stadium
$109 per room per night (twin or double), see www.cargills.co.nz, email dean@cargills.co.nz , or call 03 477 7983 (don’t forget to mention Toastmasters)

Victoria Hotel, 137 St Andrew Street, Dunedin – about 1.5km from Forsyth Barr Stadium
$120 per room per night (twin share/double/single), see www.victoriahoteldunedin.com, or call 0800 266 336.

Living Space, 192 Castle Street, Dunedin – about 1.5km from Forsyth Barr Stadium
Single rooms from $69 per night, see www.livingspace.net, or call 0508 454 846.

Scenic Hotels: Dunedin City (corner of Princes and Dowling Streets) and Southern Cross (corner of Princes and High Streets) – both about 2km from Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Special rate of $149 including GST per room per night for single, double or twin-share accommodation, just mention Toastmasters Convention when you book.

Both hotels are just a few minutes walk from the Octagon and about 5 minutes drive from the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Contact Scenic Hotel Dunedin on 03 470 1470 or dunedincity@scenichotels.co.nz or Scenic Hotel Southern Cross on 03 477 0752 or southerncross@scenichotels.co.nz. See also www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz

Transport

Arriving By Air

Dunedin Airport is around 30km from the city. Taxis to the city are expensive unless shared (between $80 - $100) but shuttles can be booked for around $30 per person, see www.supershuttle.co.nz or www.southerntaxis.co.nz.

You might also want to consider getting together with some other Toastmasters and hiring a car. Dunedin Airport is served by all major hire car companies including Jucy, Avis, Budget, Driven, Europcar, Ezi-Rent, Hertz, Nationwide and Thrifty. There is also Commodore Rental Cars who have cars from $39 per day (city pick up) with an additional cost of $60 for airport pick up and drop off (see www.commodorerentacar.co.nz, email info@commodorerentacar.co.nz or call 0800 800 233).

Getting to the Venue

Forsyth Barr Stadium is located near the University of Otago on the outskirts of Dunedin’s city centre. The closest accommodation is around 1.5km away. You may want to have access to a car – parking is plentiful at the stadium.

Contacts
For more information contact:
Convention Chairman, Stuart Anderson
Ph 021 888 104

Convention Registrar, Simon Jenkin
Email mayconvention@toastmasters.org.nz

Past Conventions

Tauranga, November 2011

District 72 Semi Annual "Ride the Wave" Convention held in Tauranga Baycourt Community and Arts Centre. 4-6 November 2011

Cruise to Tauranga we’ve got it all – Did we have it all? We sure did!

Everyone was invited to Ride the Wave and we certainly did, ensuring we were all part of the wave which was most rewarding.

Embarking on Friday, cruising on Saturday and Sunday morning, disembarking Sunday afternoon. We did it all. Encouraged by the dashing, debonair, Director of Entertainment/MC James Ross, adeptly assisted by the unpredictable (in a nice way) Maggie Jack.

Figure 1 The culprit surrounded by body guards?

Friday evening’s cruise included Mystery, Murder and Mayhem, when the ship’s doctor was found dead in his office. Just who was the murderer? Could it have been his fiancé or was it one of the cruise crew, maybe? Much fun was had by guests endeavouring to find the clues as they mixed and mingled with the suspects. The Judge and Jury were selected and the court proceedings began. The Jury reached a verdict and announced the guilty culprit who was in fact the rather voluptuous undercover detective. All great fun and an excellent start for our weekend cruise on board the distinguished Cruise Ship "Toastmasters".

Figure 2 – Exhibition Deck

Saturday dawned with a brilliant sunrise, providing a beautiful ambience to "set sail". Cruise mates were encouraged to embark quickly, with the Ships Horn, booming at 30 second interval. Once on Board, descending the stairs into the auditorium gave the impression of being on a cruise ship and arriving at the Entertainment Deck where the stage was set with two large and impressive cut out cruise ships on either side.

Figure 3 Banner Parade

The program began with a poignant kaikaranga, followed by the official opening ceremony and a lively and animated banner parade to the music of Simply the Best by Tina and Jimmy and finally to the "Gem" of this cruise, our keynote speaker Kerri Tilby-Price, with her very positive message. Sharing with us her personal view point on goal setting with a "can do" attitude. Kerri was very inspiring, motivational, and told her personal story of success with sincerity and enthusiasm leaving us all with a message to sail home with.

Figure 4 Kerri with Maggie Jack

Cruise mates then dispersed to action on other decks. In the Sports Deck Peter Scholtens and Steve Preston presented a double act, sharing their knowledge on all you every need to know and more about Speechcraft Courses.

Download Denis McCord's Rebranding Presentation (9.9MB pdf format) which was also presented during the convention.

Meanwhile in the Aft Deck, Hirata Harris spoke about IT and the very effective program "easySpeak – automation for Toastmasters". The most innovative tool for clubs to help remove the chaos from record keeping by providing a program that will maintain an accurate system to implement member management: rosters, mentoring and manual speech lists and records, automated agendas, goals lists, Award and Educational achievements/status, meeting roles, participation charts and more.

Download Use it or Lose It Presentation (38 page powerpoint, 2.9MB pdf). This is also in EasySpeak under Help.

Figure 5 Hirata Harris

In the Exhibition Deck was the very popular workshop presented by Ros Lee, who challenged cruise mates to think about "Do you Dare to be Different" with her interactive presentation supported by a very effective power point.

Back in the Entertainment Deck was the workshop "Building Toastmasters Awareness" presented by two very professional Ladies, with a mountain of knowledge and ideas. Ellie Young and Annette Fenton provided cruise mates with a multitude of excellent and very helpful information for membership building, and club promotion.
With everyone back in the Entertainment Deck, the real enjoyment began with the Table Topics Contest chaired by the very professional and efficient Lyndon Baird, challenging the 6 contestants with the thought provoking topic "Should arranged marriages be encouraged"?

Download Membership Building Strategy (453KB pdf)

Figure 6 Ros Lee

Congratulations and admiration to the winner Wayne Walker, Runnerup John Twaddle and Tevivi Daniel Jnr Third, for grasping a rather diverse topic and weaving dynamic speeches much to the delight of the cruise mates.

Figure 6 Table Topics Contestants

The afternoon frivolities were temporarily halted by the formal part of this weekend cruise - the District 72 Council Meeting. Rumoured to be long and involved.

Figure 7 District 72 Team

Under the expert chairmanship of DG Steve Bullock, the meeting sailed along at a good pace and concluded 20 minutes early much to the delight of the cruise mates who then enjoyed an extending afternoon tea break.

Back again to the Entertainment deck for IPDG Denis McCord's award presentations.

Figure 8 IPDG Denis McCord and Peter Scholtens

Congratulations to Peter Scholtens for his award as District Toastmaster of the Year.

Peter also won the Jack Duffy Rose Bowl Memorial Award for Community Service.

Figure 9 Diane Isherwood

Diane Isherwood was the Outstanding Division Governor of the Year and the Area Governor of the Year is Aaron George ACB, ALB (F8 Area Governor).

Figure 10 Immediate Past District Governor Denis McCord DTM with Faye Leonard

Figure 11 Wellington Professional Toastmasters

The 6 Club Achievement awards all went to the "Wellington Professional Toastmasters Club" – congratulations to their members for an absolutely magnificent performance – the first time one club has achieved all the awards in the same year. This concluded Day 1 but no resting up for those cruise mates attending the Cruise dine and dance.

Whilst many drove themselves, approximately 100 cruise mates took the opportunity to travel in the Cruise Tour Buses to the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club venue at the Tauranga Marina. Dressed appropriately to the theme "Dress as a Song" we were greeted on arrival by the Director of Entertainment James and a glass of complimentary bubbles. Some outrageous costumes were revealed – Hard Days Night, Devil Woman, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree, Gypsys Tramps and Thieves, Baa Baa Black Sheep (3 of them), Purple Rain, Singing in the Rain, Money Money Money, Guitar Man, Wooden Heart. Major Tom to Ground Control won the most innovative costume and the winner overall was the very provocative Lady Marmalade from Moulin Rouge.

Figure 12 We’re all going on a summer holiday

The best club group went to We’re all Going on a Summer Holiday. The venue, the food, the theme, the guests, the brilliant band that had everyone not only dancing but singing along and the playing of the music to match the songs, and the enthusiastic participation by cruise mates made this a fun night and probably the best evening ever for a Convention.

Sunday morning – Cruise Mates were again jolted into action by the booming ships horn and then well and truly woken up as the morning session opened with loud beat music for the very young and talented Hip Hop Local Dance Group.

Figure 13 Dan Allen-Gordon

Keynote speaker was Dan Allen-Gordon who shared his rather troubled childhood/teenage years which set him up for a major life change. Becoming involved with the Foundation for Youth Development courses (such as Kiwican, Stars and Project K and MYND (Mentoring Youth New Direction) transforming wayward primary and college students into aspiring young people, providing them with opportunities to develop their skills and realise their own potential. His strong message and down to earth approach made an impression on all cruise mates. Yet another bad boy doing good, walking the talk with passion and enthusiasm.

Finally the moment we had all been eagerly awaiting. The contest for the coveted Toastmasters New Zealand Humorous Speech Champion Cup. Contestants presentations covered a vast range of Topics. The winning speech "Memory, What Memory?" went to Rob Julian. Congratulations Rob, finally success. Runnerup was Kay Hammond and third was Allan Bentley.

Figure 14 Winners of Humorous Speech Contest

Workshops and more District 72 Award Presentations by LGET Murray Coutts and LGM Ellie Young and then finally we were indulged with an introduction to the Solid Gold – Celebrating 50 years of Toastmasters in New Zealand promotion for May 2012 convention, presented by Dunedin Convention Chairman Stuart Anderson.

Closing ceremony included bon voyage speeches from IPDG Denis McCord and DG Steve Bullock and the poignant and melodious voice of a very talented local young girl, 11 year old Shavaugn Kinsella accompanied by her dad Todd on acoustic guitar and harmonising the song "Now is the Hour". More of Shavaugn singing her original songs can be found on the website: http://kinsellastudio.co.nz

Figure 15 Shavaugn & Todd

Cruise mates disembarked to the sound of Freddie and Queen "We are the Champions".

Toastmasters certainly are Champions. We were all Champions each and every one of us. Thus the end of another convention that proved to be outstandingly different, full of fun, sharing and caring; making new friends whilst catching up with others, being motivated, inspired and encouraged to learn new tricks to add to our Toastmaster library of knowledge, all on board the "Cruise Ship Toastmasters" on a cruising weekend in sunny Tauranga by the sea.

Sincerely
The Cruise Team
Lani Christensen DTM – November 2011 Convention Chair

Figure 16 Tauranga Cruise Team

Auckland, May 2011

The District Convention was very successful. Convention awards are listed below. Congratulations to all the recipients.

Long Service Awards (for 25 years membership) were presented at the convention to:

Margaret Janes DTM
Craig Robinson DTM
Merle Ward DTM
Brian Morris
Richard Watson DTM
Linda Watson ATM

International Prepared Speech Contest

1st Kingi Biddle Div D Bryan Buchanan Cup
2nd Tony Hartigan Div A
3rd Lyn Bushell Div E

Evaluation Contest

1st David Hatchuel Div A Rob Hendry Cup
2nd Mike Diggins Div F
3rd Penny Coffey Div G

Morris Hayes Cup for the Most Entertaining Speaker as a Contestant in the International Speech Contest

Lynn Bushell

Alf Baker Cup for the Best Club Bulletin:

Tabletalk Toastmasters Dunedin

Dan Coomey Shield for Convention Attendance:

This club award is determined on a points basis, being the number attending (full registrations) as a percentage of the club membership; multiplied by the distance between the clubs meeting place and the convention site. Awarded to Oyster Orators (of Invercargill)

The Doris Moore Trophy

The Doris Moore Award for the longest serving toastmaster attending the convention was awarded to Brian Morris of Silver Service. Brian has been a member of Toastmasters since 1973.

Don Harden Memorial Trophy for Professionalism in District 72: